A 26-year-old woman was raped inside a parked bus at Pune’s Swargate Bus Stand early Tuesday morning, just 100 meters from a police station. The accused, Dattatraya Ramdas, 36, who has a criminal history, is currently at large despite police forming several special teams to apprehend him. The woman, a domestic worker, reported the incident after leaving the bus to meet friends. The crime has prompted strong reactions from Maharashtra officials, with Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar calling it “unforgivable.” Opposition parties criticized the government for rising crime rates and holding protests at the bus stand.
Pune:
A 26-year-old woman was assaulted on a bus early Tuesday morning – while it was stationary in the heart of Pune’s bustling Swargate Bus Stand and merely 100 metres away from a police station.
The suspect has been identified as Dattatraya Ramdas, who was recognized through CCTV footage, but he has not yet been apprehended. The police have established eight special teams and deployed a canine unit to locate him. Ramdas, 36, has a previous criminal history.
The bus where the young woman, a domestic worker heading to her home village of Phaltan in Satara district, was attacked has also been damaged, according to police reports.
As per the police, the incident occurred sometime between 5:45 AM and 6:30 AM.
An initial examination of the CCTV footage reveals the alleged assailant conversing with the woman, who mentioned that Ramdas referred to her as ‘didi’, meaning ‘sister’. He inquired about her destination and claimed that the parked bus—where no lights were on—would take her there.
The woman recounted that he guided her to the bus and, upon her hesitation about the absence of lights, he explained that the other passengers were sleeping, hence the darkness.
Once she boarded the bus, he entered after her, locked the door, and assaulted her.
Following the incident, she boarded another bus where her friend was present and disclosed that she had been assaulted. Her friend urged her to immediately report the matter to the authorities.
The police stated that they promptly registered a complaint and reviewed the CCTV footage, which initiated their investigation. They will look into how and why the bus depot management permitted such an event to occur on their premises and involving their bus.
This bus stand is one of the largest operated by the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation.
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar described the event as “extremely unfortunate, distressing, infuriating”. Mr. Pawar also noted that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis is aware of the situation and has issued the necessary instructions to the police.
“The incident of assault on one of our sisters at the Swargate bus station in Pune is extremely unfortunate, distressing, and infuriating to all in a civilized society. It is a situation that makes us hang our heads in shame. The crime committed by the accused in this case is inexcusable, and the only punishment suitable is hanging. I have personally instructed the Pune Police Commissioner to adopt a proactive approach in investigating this case and to apprehend the accused swiftly,” Mr. Pawar shared on X.
“Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has also given this crime his serious attention and provided necessary directives to the police. The accused will be arrested promptly by the police, and the state government will ensure he faces the strictest penalties under the law. I assure all the brothers, sisters, and mothers of Maharashtra of this commitment. Directions have been issued to the Minister of Women and Child Development along with the Chairperson of the State Women’s Commission to grant justice, mental support, and all possible aid to the victim,” Mr. Pawar added.
Unsurprisingly, the assault has evoked strong reactions from the opposition, attributing responsibility to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who oversees the Home Department, for the escalating crime rates in the Pune region.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal remarked that incidents of sexual assault are increasing in the state and referenced the notorious Nirbhaya case in Delhi from 2012. He criticized the BJP-led administration for prioritizing ‘freebies’ for women over their safety.
#WATCH | Pune, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vasant More, alongside other party officials, protests at the Swargate bus stand in response to the alleged assault of a 26-year-old woman. pic.twitter.com/du9aQCMJyL
— ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2025
“When the Nirbhaya gangrape occurred in Delhi… people changed the regime by voting out the Congress and bringing in the AAP. You (the BJP) promote schemes for women that provide financial assistance… but then turn a blind eye to the fundamental issues affecting the populace,” he stated.
The NCP’s Supriya Sule, representing a faction allied with Congress, condemned the fact that a rape occurred in an area that ought to be routinely monitored by police. “.. this demonstrates that anti-social elements do not fear the law. The home department has failed to address crime in Pune.”
Additionally, the Shiv Sena faction led by former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, allied with both Congress and Ms. Sule’s NCP, has organized a protest at the bus stand.
A video released by news agency ANI depicted Sena’s Vasant More and other leaders within the office of the bus stand, where the window had been smashed.
With input from agencies